PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Foundation has announced plans to privatize 54 government-run hospitals, including the Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital in Booni.
It said the move is part of a broader plan to improve healthcare across the province. The initiative aims to fix chronic problems in public hospitals. These include staff absenteeism, outdated equipment, and insufficient medical supplies. By outsourcing management to private entities, the government hopes to increase efficiency and improve patient care.
Assessments showed that many facilities were underperforming. The government will implement the plan through a public-private partnership (PPP) model. This model was set up under the Public-Private Partnership Act of 2016. Since then, 19 health facilities in the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Chitral have been outsourced. These hospitals reported better service delivery and higher patient satisfaction.
Earlier, the KP government handed over THQ Hospitals in Booni and Garam Chashma, as well as the Rural Health Centre in Shagram. The latest initiative faces challenges. Outsourcing for 58 hospitals, including district and tehsil headquarters facilities, was recently deferred. The delay came due to legal uncertainties and low interest from private parties under the caretaker government.
Despite this, the provincial government remains committed to outsourcing. They cite improved performance in previously privatized hospitals.
The move has drawn severe public criticism. People worry it may reduce accessibility, raise costs, and hurt healthcare quality, especially in rural areas. Critics warn that privatization could worsen inequalities and leave vulnerable communities at risk.
Privatizing Booni THQ Hospital is part of the ongoing effort to reform the KP healthcare system. The goal is to provide better services, maintain efficiency, and ensure higher standards of care for patients in both urban and rural areas.
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